Evaluation of various tests for the diagnosis of soil contamination by 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP)

Soil response to contamination with 2,4,5-triclorophenol was studied to test the validity of the concept of Generic Reference Levels (GRL), the main criterion used to define soil contamination. Soil samples were artificially contaminated with doses between 0 and 5000 mg kg⁻¹ of 2,4,5-triclorophenol, and analysed by various tests. Where possible, the response of soils to the contaminant was modelled by a sigmoidal dose-response curve in order to estimate the ED₅₀ values. The tests provided different responses, but only microbial biomass-C and dehydrogenase and urease activities demonstrated soil deterioration in response to contamination. The results suggest that the diagnosis of soil contamination has been greatly simplified in the legislation by the provision of a single figure for each compound, and that the GRL concept could perhaps be substituted by measurement of ED₅₀ values, which better reflect the alteration of a soil due to the presence of a xenobiotic substance.     

多溴联苯醚与四溴双酚A的生物代谢研究进展

分析了生物体内多溴联苯醚（PBDEs）和四溴双酚A（TBBPA）的来源和分布,综述了PBDEs和TBBPA在生物体内发生还原代谢和氧化代谢的研究进展,从体内原位代谢和体外模拟代谢2个方面探讨了PBDEs和TBBPA的生物代谢机制、代谢途径及代谢中可能涉及的代谢酶,指出今后应进一步深入开展PBDEs和TBBPA的生物积累和代谢产物的定量分析的研究。     

底泥铬污染的纳米铁粉修复及其土壤酶活性动态

采用纳米铁粉修复Cr(Ⅵ)不同程度污染底泥,通过测定底泥中4种土壤酶活性,分析纳米铁粉修复对Cr(Ⅵ)污染底泥土壤酶活性的恢复情况.结果表明,纳米铁粉修复对底泥Cr(Ⅵ)有很好的去除效果,添加底泥干质量1%的纳米铁粉在16 d内对底泥30～100 mg·kg-1的Cr(Ⅵ)的去除率均高于99.7%.Cr(Ⅵ)污染显著降低了底泥多酚氧化酶、过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶和脲酶的活性.其中多酚氧化酶对Cr(Ⅵ)污染有很好的线性响应,可用于0～100 mg·kg-1底泥Cr(Ⅵ)污染评价.经过16 d的纳米铁粉修复,Cr(Ⅵ)污染底泥的脲酶活性恢复至未污染对照水平,过氧化氢酶活性的恢复效果不明显,多酚氧化酶和蛋白酶活性有待进一步恢复.     

Effects of insoluble Zn, Cd, and EDTA on the growth, activities of antioxidant enzymes and uptake of Zn and Cd in Vetiveria zizanioides

A root-bag experiment was conducted to study the effects of insoluble Zn, Cd and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the plant growth, activities of antioxidant enzymes, proline, glutathione (GSH), water-soluble proteins and malondialdehyde (MDA) of Vetiveria zizanioides, and its uptake capacity of Zn and Cd.The results showed that plant growth of V.zizanioides was inhibited by Zn and Cd.The shoot dry weight (SDW) and root dry weight (RDW) decrease by 0.3%, 8.0%, 9.4% and 10.4%, 15.1%, 24.2% compared to the control without EDTA addition, respectively.After adding EDTA, shoot and root dry weight decreased over 10% and 15% compared to results in the absence of EDTA, respectively.The toxicity from insoluble Zn and Cd in soil on SDW and RDW of V.zizanioides was in order: Zn+Cd > Cd > Zn.The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), and contents of MDA and proline significantly increased, while the contents of GSH and water-soluble proteins markedly decreased with increasing Zn and Cd toxicity.With EDTA, shoot and root Zn concentrations increased in the Zn treatment by 7.3% and 37.4% compared to the plants grown in absence of EDTA.Shoot and root Cd concentrations in the combined Zn and Cd treatment with EDTA increased by 18.6% and 391.9% compared to the treatment without EDTA.However, Zn and Cd concentrations in shoot and roots decreased in the Cd treatment compared to the plants grown in absence of EDTA, with exception of root Cd concentration in the presence of EDTA).     

Smokeless tobacco extract impairs iron homeostasis in rats and human hepatoma,HepG2 cells

Tobacco exposure may alter homeostasis of iron (Fe), one of the most abundant and essential transition metals in the body. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract of smokeless tobacco was evaluated on Fe homeostasis in rats and human hepatoma, HepG2 cells. Our findings suggested that tobacco consumption even at low doses impairs Fe homeostasis leading to Fe deficiency anemia. Significant alterations were noted with respect to hematological parameters and expression patterns of selected intestinal Fe-transporters, Fe-binding proteins, and Fe-regulatory hormone, hepcidin. Impairment in the hepatic and renal antioxidant defense system was also observed in the treated rats. Histopathological studies revealed cirrhosis of liver and goblet cell hyperplasia of small intestine. Further, analysis of hepcidin promoter and its expression along with ferritin (expression and ELISA) in HepG2 cells demonstrated an enhanced expression of both the genes resulting in sequestration of Fe in treated cells, thus indicating systemic Fe deficiency.     

PCB disposition and different biological effects in rats following direct soil exposure vs. PCBs off-gassed from the soil

A comparison of PCB congener profiles and limited biological effects was made between direct exposure to PCB-contaminated soil and vapor phase PCBs from that soil to determine congener patterns useful for identifying exposure sources in humans and wildlife. Weanling female Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to either control or PCB-contaminated soil (from a landfill in Southern Illinois) for 1 and 2 weeks. The exposures were via direct contact with the soil or via airborne exposure with the rats isolated from the soil by a wire screen. Total PCB of 25% contaminated soil used in the study was 13?500?ppm. No PCBs were detectable in control rats. In direct-exposed rats, total PCB residues in fat pad, ear skin, serum, liver, and inguinal lymph nodes after the 1-week exposure were 6256, 185, 3.2, 149, and 41?ppm, respectively, but decreased to 465, 72, 1.7, 106, and 32.4?ppm after the 2-week exposure. In airborne-exposed rats, total PCB residues were 7.8, 1.6, 0.03, 0.2, and 0.6 in the same manner and slightly increased in fat pad and ear skin to 11.6 and 2.14, respectively. Decreases in both the concentrations and percentages of “episodic” PCBs (those congeners rapidly metabolized) in the fat pad were apparent following the 2-week exposure compared to the 1-week exposure by both routes. Both EROD and BROD activities were significantly increased in the direct-exposed rats, whereas only BROD activity increased in airborne-exposed rats. Serum T ₄ levels were depleted in the direct-exposed rats regardless of time of exposure but were increased insignificantly after 1-week and significantly after 2 weeks in the airborne-exposed rats. No significant changes in serum insulin levels were apparent in any of the treated groups. The results suggested that exposure of animals to PCBs via different routes could result in different PCB profiles, which could cause different biological effects.     

Oxidative stress and changes in locomotor behavior and gill morphology of Gambusia affinis exposed to chromium

Sublethal effects of chromium trioxide on mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis, were carried out for 28 days on day 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28. The sublethal effects of chromium (LC₁₀, 77.62?mg?L^?1) on antioxidant enzymes, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), locomotor behavior, and gill morphology were studied. The antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were induced throughout the exposure span of 28 days. Percent induction was also increase with the days of exposure. Lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde was enhanced in the viscera tissue of chromium-exposed fish. Perturbation of locomotor behavior like decrease in distance travelled (m?min^?1) and in swimming speed (cm?s^?1) was observed in exposed fish. Chromium toxicity caused alterations in gill morphology like hypertrophy and hyperplasia in secondary lamellae followed by detached epithelium with severe necrosis. It can be concluded from the results that Cr intoxication in Gambusia fish, caused induction in antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation, plus changes in gill morphology and locomotor behavior.     

Long-term impacts of graphene oxide and Ag nanoparticles on anammox process: Performance, microbial community and toxic mechanism

The increasing application of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) has posed an emerging challenge to constructed wetland wastewater treatment. The performance, microbial community and toxic mechanism of anammox-based unplanted subsurface-flow constructed wetlands (USFCWs) were investigated under the long-term exposure of different graphene oxides (GOs) and Ag NP concentrations. Results showed that the addition of GO could promote TN removal, manifesting as function anammox bacteria C. Anammoxoglobus having a relative high abundance, for GO did not cause significant damage to the cell integrity though there was an increase in ROS concentrations. TN removal would not be obviously affected under exposure of 1?mg/L Ag NPs, for the function gene related to cell biogenesis and repair was up-regulated; while the addition of 10?mg/L Ag NPs would have an inhibiting effect on TN removal in the USFCWs, for the disappearance of some species having anammox ability. Key enzymes of anammox process (NIR and HDH) decreased to some extent under GO and Ag NP exposure, and function gene of defense mechanisms had an increase trend in samples.     

Effects of copper on lipid peroxidation,glutathione, metallothionein,and antioxidative enzymes in the freshwater mussel Anodonta anatina

Copper is an essential element to all animals. At elevated concentrations, it is toxic and can participate in the formation of reactive oxygen species, leading to cellular damage. In this study, the ecotoxicological relevance of copper was investigated with freshwater mussels, Anodonta anatina. When the mussels were exposed to copper at environmentally realistic concentrations, either via the water (0.3?µmol?L^?1 Cu) or fed with Cu-loaded algae (equivalent to 0.06?µmol?L^?1 Cu), the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances rose and glutathione decreased. This was associated with the induction of metallothionein and, relative to total protein, of glutathione reductase and the antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. But, since the overall protein-synthetic capacity was hampered by the copper insult, the activities of the enzymes relative to tissue weight and copper concentrations were depressed. During depuration, most parameters started to normalize although not returning to control values within 12 days.     

二氧化硫胁迫对不同抗性玉米幼苗活性氧代谢的影响

采用60mg·m-3SO2气体处理玉米（Zea Mays.L）幼苗,通过组织化学染色和定量测定,分析了高抗自交系齐139和敏感自交系昌7-2在活性氧代谢上的差异。结果表明：SO2胁迫处理3h后,高抗系齐139幼苗叶片积累了较高的O2-和H2O2,12h后被迅速清除而趋于平衡;而高感系昌7-2叶片在胁迫早期产生的O2-和H2O2较少,后期有大量的O2-和H2O2积累,导致细胞损伤。抗氧化酶SOD和CAT在抗性系中显著升高,而敏感系中增幅不显著。这一研究表明不同抗性系中活性氧代谢的差异可能与其对SO2的抗性密切相关。